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Playing ‘garden rugby’ with his brothers Mike and Matt introduced Taunton-born Richard Capstick to the game, along with his club ‘baptism’ at Taunton RFC at the age of five.

He said: “My main development was at Heathfield Community School and also through the Taunton coaches. I moved to Topsham RFC where I was mentored by Darren Oxland and Seb Stewart, who pushed me to join the Exeter Academy when I was 14.

"I also owe special thanks to S&C coach Joe Satt for helping me to return after a nasty back injury early on in the season.”

Going on to be a student at Exeter College, he took a BTEC Level 3 in Sport & Exercise Science, having been supported in his rugby aspirations by his mum Sarah and dad John. Richard said: “He [dad John] coached me from a young age and his raw enthusiasm for the game rubbed off on me.”

His best experiences in the game were the U18 International Series in Wales in April 2017, together with his debut for the national U17 team in France in front of a crowd of 4,000 and winning the AASE League title last year.

Basketball, golf and tennis are the sports he plays as well as rugby and he supports Blackburn Rovers. The south of France is his top holiday venue, High School Musical Soundtrack is among his likes, along with Made in Chelsea, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Real Husbands of Hollywood and Two and a Half men. His top meal is “Nana Joyce’s Christmas dinner”.

He describes himself as ‘chivalrous, elegant and modest’ but reckons his mates regard him as “cheap, charismatic and cheerful’. His proudest off-field experience was seeing his mum complete the London Marathon.